Communications Officer – New Mexico Region

Communications Officer - New Mexico Region

• W.K. Kellogg Foundation
• August 13, 2024
• Battle Creek, MI

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About W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families, and communities as they strengthen and create conditions so all children can achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society.

Upon establishing the foundation in 1930, breakfast cereal innovator W.K. Kellogg instructed future trustees and staff to Use the money as you please so long as it promotes the health, happiness and well-being of children.

To this day, the foundation envisions, and works toward, a nation that marshals its resource to assure that all children have an equitable and promising future a nation in which all children thrive.

To advance this mission, the foundation implements an array of change-making tools grantmaking, impact investing, communications, contracting, networking, and convenings and uses an innovative matrixed organizational design to prioritize investment decisions and maximize effectiveness toward achieving the desired ends and improvements for children and their families.

A commitment to racial equity, community engagement and leadership development is woven into each endeavor as essential to the creation of a social context in which all children can thrive.

Their grant-making focuses on education and learning; food, health, and well-being; and family economic security.

The overall work of the foundation is guided by the following values :

• We believe in helping people help themselves through the practical application of knowledge and resources to improve their quality of life and that of future generations.
• We believe all people have the inherent capacity to effect change in their lives, in their organization, and in their communities.

We respect individuals and value their collective interests, strengths, and cultures.

We believe stewardship requires fidelity to the spirit and to the intent of the founder and the wide use of resources.

We believe in being responsible, prudent, selfless, and exercising good judgment.

• We believe innovation of thought and action leads to enduring and positive change in both formal and informal systems.
• We value integrity of purpose and action, and believe it is essential to all of our affairs.

This is a powerful time to be on the front lines of innovative philanthropy and we hope you’ll consider joining us! To learn more about the foundation, please visit and everychildthrives.com.

The Opportunity

• Communications officers at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation are responsible for managing communication projects that support an assigned body of work;
• collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to design, plan and implement strategic communications campaigns and projects;

cultivating media relationships; managing the organization’s reputation and brand; and identifying and nurturing opportunities for affecting positive systemic change within communities.

An officer at the foundation generally has the following responsibilities :

• Execute bodies of work requiring deep functional expertise.
• Cultivate, manage, and monitor program / vendor / project portfolios.
• Nurture strong, authentic relationships across the organization and with grantees / vendors and the communities they serve.
• Define, develop, and implement projects.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with key vendors and partners internally and external.
• Provide high-level technical expertise and assistance.
• Identify, document, and disseminate results, outcomes, and learnings.
• Analyze and solve problems.
• Solicit and respond to stakeholder input.
• Responsible for budget, vendor, and contracts management.

Specifically, a communications officer is responsible for the following :

• Lead, conceptualize, plan, create, deliver, track, and assess the foundation’s communication, both independently and as part of teams and work groups across a networked organization operating in the United States, Mexico, and Haiti.
• Design and implement dynamic and integrated communications campaigns developed alongside grantmaking strategies centered on the goals, objectives and priorities of the foundation and assigned body of work.
• Understand WKKF strategic priorities, including current and new investments, grantmaking, mission related investments, policy priorities, and resulting impacts.

Stay abreast of current events, policy, and civic issues at the national level and in WKKF named places, as well as in the philanthropic sector, to ensure that writing is authoritative and reflects up-to-the-minute developments.

• Support the goals, objectives, and priorities of the foundation by modeling and promoting effective communications workflow.
• Actively develop and manage working relationships with key staff and external stakeholders and represent the foundation’s voice and profile serving as a lead brand manager to news and social media, key influencers and thought leaders, grantees, and employees on behalf of the organization.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics :

• Strong alignment with WKKF’s values and DNA
• Intercultural competence
• Openness / self-awareness
• Ego-management
• Systems thinker
• Brings people together
• Change competence
• Collaborative
• Conflict competence
• Listens well
• Talent architect / people developer
• Empowers leadership
• Trust builder
• Shares accountability
• Results-oriented

Education / Experience

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, English or other field relevant to assigned area is required;

master’s degree is preferred.

Minimum five years’ related work experience creating and managing objective-focused communications content (for both internal / employee-focused and external audiences) for online, social, and traditional media and related project management required.

Preference for significant relevant work experience (8-12+ years) with strong networks and contacts.

• Significant experience working respectfully with Tribal and Native communities.
• Foundation or nonprofit experience preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with persons from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Strong local and / or national media relationships.
• Experience leading community engagement campaigns.

Core Capabilities

• Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal) with evidence of proficiency in writing (to include short analytic communications, interviewing and listening, narrative / storytelling in a range of forms, media outreach).
• Strong real-time analytic capabilities in all phases of communication work (related to audience analysis, understanding context, connecting relevant information, message development, assessing results, debriefing, and adaptation).
• Strong independent problem-solving skills, including strategic curiosity, the ability to pose questions and the tenacity to find answers.
• Strong, demonstrated interpersonal and relationship-building skills to work with staff at all levels of the organization and with a range of external stakeholders, including social intelligence, the discipline to work independently and the flexibility to step into team roles as needed as leaders, partners, or project managers.
• Willingness to adapt and a deep desire to learn.

Location Specific Requirements

• Relevant work experience in New Mexico, including strong networks throughout the state.
• Knowledge of pressing issues, emerging opportunities, leaders and communities in New Mexico.
• Experience with state, local and tribal community organizing and policy advocacy on issues affecting New Mexico's working families with children.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $124,300 - $170,900 with a generous benefits package.

The exact salary within this range will be dependent upon the depth of relevant experience, education, certifications, credentials, special skills, accomplishments, and other factors relevant to the position.

Contact

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Erin Reedy and Christy Farrell.

Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our . All inquiries are strictly confidential.